Dubai nabs multiple gangs with counterfeit currencies including one with fake money worth $7.5m

Dubai Police have successfully intercepted multiple cases of counterfeit currency circulation, including an operation in which an Asian national was involved as he paid a car seller with counterfeit money, which was later discovered by the seller.

In a second case a gang of three suspects was arrested after smuggling counterfeit currency into the country and attempting to exchange it for foreign currencies through exchange companies.

In a third case, a 56-year-old Asian visitor was arrested at an airport with counterfeit foreign banknotes worth Dhs185,000.

Recently, the Federal Investigation Department at the Ministry of Interior arrested an Arab gang in possession of counterfeit foreign currency valued at $7.5 million, which they planned to circulate within the country.

Despite gangs employing advanced fraudulent methods, the vigilance of Dubai Police’s investigation teams, coupled with cooperation from exchange companies and banks, has been instrumental in thwarting these schemes.

Colonel Dr Ali Khalifa Al Falasi, Head of Document Examination at the General Department of Forensic Science and Criminology, emphasised that Dubai Police utilise cutting-edge technologies to combat counterfeiting, including advanced visible and non-visible spectrum devices and digital microscopes.

He praised the specialised teams’ efforts in detecting and curbing forgery, urging the public to report any suspicious activities.

Lawyer Badr Abdullah Khamis highlighted that under Article 204 of the Federal Penal Code, individuals who counterfeit, forge, or circulate legal currency (whether inside or outside the UAE) face life jail or temporary imprisonment, along with a fine of at least Dhs200,000.

He added that the law also penalises those who import, export, promote, or use counterfeit currency knowingly.

"If counterfeiting causes a currency’s value to drop or undermines market confidence, the penalty increases to life imprisonment," he added.